Verizon Wireless' "COLT" Joins All-Star Lineup At NFL Pro Bowl To Handle Surge In Wireless Activity At Aloha Stadium In Hawaii

HONOLULU, HI — Anticipating a significant increase in wireless activity from thousands of NFL fans during the Pro Bowl on January 30 at Aloha Stadium, Verizon Wireless is activating a temporary mobile cell site called a COLT (Cell on Light Truck). Verizon Wireless will beef up its network capacity by deploying the temporary mobile cell site, enabling thousands of fans to surf the Web, send and receive video and picture messages by text or e-mail and place phone calls.

With more than 50,000 fans and tailgaters expected at Aloha Stadium for the Pro Bowl, Verizon Wireless expects that its network will handle two to three times the number of wireless calls compared to a typical day. The COLTs will enhance wireless capacity, allowing more customers to use their wireless phones concurrently to make calls, send and receive text and picture messages, and access their favorite social media sites.

“When we anticipate a significant surge in wireless activity, we bring in additional mobile cell sites that work along with our existing area network to compensate,” said Mark Yamauchi, director of Hawaii sales for Verizon Wireless. “The COLTs enable us to handle the temporary increase in wireless usage and ensures that we are providing our customers with the highest quality service from the nation’s most reliable network.”

Quick Facts on the Verizon Wireless COLT

• The temporary cell site can process thousands of calls every hour.
• Each 25,000-pound COLT features a retractable mast, a microwave antenna to link network components, an emergency power generator and a small office.
• The COLTs are also fully equipped with resources needed during emergencies including equipment, fuel, electrical generators, food, water and cots.

The temporary cell site is part of Verizon Wireless’ continuous effort to increase capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network in Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest and across the country. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $65 billion across the nation since it was formed in 2000 to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services like Mobile Broadband and V CAST. The company’s ongoing network investment in Hawaii totals more than $254 million.

B-Roll:
Video, B-roll and high-quality still photographs of Verizon Wireless’ fleet of COLTs can be found at http://verizonwireless.mediaseed.tv/Story.aspx?story=36603.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest and most advanced 4G network and the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 94 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 82,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, Nasdaq: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

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